US Presidential Contenders

[Rusty Edge]

In what context was he speaking?

The ballot choice between [Sleezebag] and Hillary in a floor interview after his speech. I may have prefaced my remark with an exclamation about organic fertilizer of bovine origin. That is so rare an occurrence on my part, that I can't recall in what year it last happened.

[Buster's Uncle]

Funny; I was talking at lunch to my wimminz about just exactly the thing he did in saying that -False Equivalence.  It's assault and battery on the truth of an intensity approaching attempted murder.

[Rusty Edge]

Christie usually rubs me the wrong way, and not just because he's from Jersey and I'm from PA.
It's the gap in the authoritarian-libertarian spectrum. Of course Jersey was Tory colony anyway...

[Rusty Edge]

http://reason.com/reasontv/2016/07/15/are-republicans-or-democrats-more-anti-s

Are Republicans or Democrats More Anti-Science?

Reason TV talks with California progressives about what happens when science meets politics.

Zach Weissmueller, Justin Monticello & Joshua Swain | July 15, 2016

It's popular to portray the GOP as the anti-science party and Democrats as the sane, "party of science" alternative.  And only 6 percent of scientists identified as Republicans, according to a 2009 Pew Research poll, which seems to be the most recent one on the topic. But the truth is that when science and politics meet, the result often isn't pretty, regardless of partisan affiliation.

Reason TV asked locals in Venice, California about their thoughts on various scientific policy questions and compared their answers to public opinion poll data. We found that many people favored mandatory labeling of food that contains DNA, the stuff of life contained in just about every morsel of fruit, vegetable, grain, or meat humans consume. Yet a recent survey out of the University of Florida found that 80 percent of respondents favor mandatory DNA labeling, only slightly below the 85 percent that favor labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). While Republicans are divided evenly on the GMO question, Democrats rate them unsafe by a 26-point margin, despite almost 2,000 studies spanning a decade saying otherwise.

Republicans are more skeptical of the theory of evolution, though by a surprisingly slim margin with 39 percent of them rejecting it as compared to 30 percent of Democrats. When it comes to other scientific matters, the waters are even muddier. For instance, Democrats and Republicans believe in the false link between vaccines and autism at roughly equal levels.




And it's largely liberal Democratic politicians pushing anti-vaping laws, despite public health agencies estimating e-cigarettes to be around 95% safer than conventional tobacco cigarettes and early evidence they help smokers quit. And vaping products don't contain any tobacco or its resultant tar, yet the FDA still wants to treat them as tobacco products.

The big science policy issue of the day, though, seems to be global warming. Sixty-four percent of Democrats believe in man-made global warming, while only 22 percent of Republicans do. But when it comes to realistic solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Democrats still aren't always science-minded.

Only 45 percent of Democrats support expanding the use of nuclear energy, as compared to 62 percent of Republicans, despite the fact that except for Chernobyl, not a single person, including nuclear workers, has ever died due to a commercial nuclear reactor accident.

Burning natural gas extracted through fracking is cleaner than oil or gasoline, and far more economically viable than non-nuclear renewable sources. And it emits half as much carbon dioxide, less than one-third the nitrogen oxides, and 1 percent as much sulfur oxides as coal combustion.

The ongoing switch from coal to natural gas to generate electricity is a primary driver of the reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by half a billion tons over the last decade, according to the EPA, which also has found no systemic evidence that fracking contaminates water tables. The U.S. Geological Survey found that fracking can cause "extremely small earthquakes, but they are almost always too small to be a safety concern," though larger earthquakes can result when operations dispose of wastewater by injecting it deep into the ground.

So maybe it's not that Republicans are dumber than Democrats when it comes to science, or the other way around, but that both sides have blind spots when data-based evidence contradicts their political preferences.

[E_T]

As eye-rollingly pathetic and amateur as it is for Melania (or her speechwriter) to have plagiarized Michelle, Republicans ain't gonna care. "Oh, Melania stole some lines? Well Obama stole our country/jobs/the presidency!"

A different take of the plagerized speech thing...

Starting with A tale of two cities and then slamming into Dr. Seuss... Some William Wallace...

F...ing Funny as H3ll...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh1wctQNKRM " target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh1wctQNKRM </a>

[Rusty Edge]

This is a long repetitive piece. They failed to report the most important thing Cruz said - "Candidates that support the Constitution"

I was surprised that Cruz was going to speak at all, after the way that [Sleezebag] insulted his wife and blamed his dad for assassinating JFK, because [Sleezebag] never apologizes.

They also failed to report the cheers and applause Cruz got at the same time others were booing him.

Chris Christie was ridiculing Cruz for not fulfilling his pledge to support the eventual nominee. But I have to respect Cruz as one of the increasingly few who believe that never [Sleezebag] means never [Sleezebag].

****

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/20/politics/ted-cruz-republican-convention-moment/

Cruz booed


Teddy Schleifer
Stephen Collinson Profile

By Theodore Schleifer and Stephen Collinson, CNN
Updated 12:16 AM ET, Thu July 21, 2016


Cleveland (CNN) — Ted Cruz sensationally withheld an endorsement of Donald [Sleezebag] at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, earning a chorus of boos from the floor before he was upstaged in a power play by the GOP nominee himself.

In a dramatic development, as Cruz wrapped up his speech, [Sleezebag] suddenly appeared in the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He walked to join his family in a VIP area and flashed a thumbs-up -- a gesture that transmitted clear anger at the Texas senator's behavior.

Cruz, his party's runner-up, uttered [Sleezebag]'s name just once -- to congratulate him -- and instead pitched the ideological brand of conservatism that endears him to the GOP's base.

"I congratulate Donald [Sleezebag] on winning the nomination last night," Cruz said. "And like each of you, I want to see the principles that our party believes prevail in November."

But as it was clear Cruz was going to end his speech without endorsing [Sleezebag], delegates began to boo and some chanted "We want [Sleezebag]!"


"Don't stay home in November," Cruz said toward the end of his otherwise very well-received speech. "Stand and speak and vote your conscience."

As delegates began to protest, Sen. Cruz's wife, Heidi Cruz, was heckled by [Sleezebag] supporters shouting "Goldman Sachs!" and escorted out by security. Heidi Cruz, who is an employee of Goldman Sachs, declined to answer questions from reporters, saying, "I don't talk to the media, thanks."

The stunning political theater between the top two contenders in the Republican primary race blew open divisions in the party that the convention is designed to heal, and suggested Cruz believes [Sleezebag] will lose in November.

Cruz's appearance at the Cleveland convention had been the subject of intense anticipation over his attitude toward [Sleezebag], after their intensely personal exchanges in the late stages of the primary race.

He got a prolonged standing ovation as he walked on stage for a speech that appeared to be an attempt to establish himself as the guardian of conservative values that some activists doubt [Sleezebag] shares.

Cruz's rebuke ignited a hot scene around the senator as soon as he left the stage. People averted their eyes from Cruz and his wife as they walked with their security detail on the skybox level of boisterous Republicans.

On the donor suite level, people approached Cruz and insulted him, a source told CNN's Dana Bash. One state party chairman reacted so angrily that he had to be restrained.

Cruz, who has long sought the support of GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, was turned away when he tried to enter Adelson's suite after the rebuke, three sources tell CNN.

[Sleezebag], whose insults of Cruz were a constant on the campaign trail over the past year, tweeted that Cruz didn't honor the pledge GOP candidates had signed to back the eventual Republican nominee.

"Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!"




Wow, Ted Cruz got booed off the stage, didn't honor the pledge! I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway. No big deal!
— Donald J. [Sleezebag] (@realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2016
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie -- a former presidential candidate and now a [Sleezebag] backer -- blasted Cruz's speech in an interview with Bash.


realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2016

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie -- a former presidential candidate and now a [Sleezebag] backer -- blasted Cruz's speech in an interview with Bash.



CNN Politics app
"I think it was awful," Christie said. "And quite frankly, I think it was something selfish. And he signed a pledge. And it's his job to keep his word."

A source close to Cruz said the senator wasn't shocked by the mood after the speech.

"He expected people to not approve," the source said. "Not surprised at the reaction."

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who accepted the nomination as [Sleezebag]'s vice presidential nominee at the end of Wednesday's session, sidestepped when asked about Cruz's speech.

"I am just grateful for all the support we are receiving and I am excited about the future," Pence said.

Eric [Sleezebag]'s reaction: "The audience didn't seem to like it right?"

Asked about the impact of the non-endorsement, Eric [Sleezebag] responded, "I don't think it makes any difference in the world."

Hillary Clinton's campaign seized on Cruz's speech as well, tweeting: "Vote your conscience" with a link to her website.




Vote your conscience. https://t.co/xahMq2sU1q
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 21, 2016
Cleveland (CNN) — Ted Cruz sensationally withheld an endorsement of Donald [Sleezebag] at the Republican National Convention Wednesday, earning a chorus of boos from the floor before he was upstaged in a power play by the GOP nominee himself.

In a dramatic development, as Cruz wrapped up his speech, [Sleezebag] suddenly appeared in the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. He walked to join his family in a VIP area and flashed a thumbs-up -- a gesture that transmitted clear anger at the Texas senator's behavior.

Cruz, his party's runner-up, uttered [Sleezebag]'s name just once -- to congratulate him -- and instead pitched the ideological brand of conservatism that endears him to the GOP's base.

"I congratulate Donald [Sleezebag] on winning the nomination last night," Cruz said. "And like each of you, I want to see the principles that our party believes prevail in November."

But as it was clear Cruz was going to end his speech without endorsing [Sleezebag], delegates began to boo and some chanted "We want [Sleezebag]!"


"Don't stay home in November," Cruz said toward the end of his otherwise very well-received speech. "Stand and speak and vote your conscience."

As delegates began to protest, Sen. Cruz's wife, Heidi Cruz, was heckled by [Sleezebag] supporters shouting "Goldman Sachs!" and escorted out by security. Heidi Cruz, who is an employee of Goldman Sachs, declined to answer questions from reporters, saying, "I don't talk to the media, thanks."

The stunning political theater between the top two contenders in the Republican primary race blew open divisions in the party that the convention is designed to heal, and suggested Cruz believes [Sleezebag] will lose in November.

Cruz's appearance at the Cleveland convention had been the subject of intense anticipation over his attitude toward [Sleezebag], after their intensely personal exchanges in the late stages of the primary race.


Delegates unhappy as well: 'He failed the nation'

The reaction from the floor was also swift and harsh.

Newt Gingrich, appearing after Cruz, argued that Cruz's advocacy for constitutionalism meant that he, implicitly, endorsed [Sleezebag] -- words he himself did not say.

"So to paraphrase Ted Cruz, if you want to protect the Constitution this fall, there's only one possible way and that's to vote the [Sleezebag]-Pence ticket."

Richard Black, a delegate from Virginia who chaired Cruz's campaign, said after Cruz's speech that it was "doubtful" he would support him again.

"In the end, each individual has a duty to the nation that transcends the duty to themselves,' Black said. "That's where he failed... He failed the nation."

Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona, who backed Cruz, told CNN he was "disappointed" by Cruz' speech.

On him saying "vote your conscience", Franks said, "for the people in this room, a vote of conscience is a [Sleezebag] vote."

Michigan GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga, a former Marco Rubio supporter, called Cruz' speech "a mistake."

Huizenga said it was also a mistake for the [Sleezebag] campaign to give Cruz a coveted prime-time speaking slot without some type of "pre-condition" that he would formally endorse [Sleezebag].

Jonathan Barnett, a Republican national committeeman from Arkansas, walked off the floor after Cruz's speech.

"He's self-centered. It's all about Ted Cruz. All he did is ruin his political career," Barnett said. "I think he's finished."

Barnett said this is not the kind of grace one shows their party's nominee: "Reagan wouldn't have done that. He endorsed Ford."

Arizona delegate Bruce Ash expressed a similar sentiment.

"Cruz missed his moment. All he had to do was say '[Sleezebag]' and he used the dog whistle for 'conscience.' A very disappointing message," Ash texted.


Cruz's difficult challenge

The speech was difficult from the start: Cruz's goal was to walk a tightrope and keep alive his political viability for 2020 without alienating [Sleezebag]'s legion of supporters.




























Related Video: [Sleezebag]'s plane interrupts Ted Cruz 00:55

It was the latter that tripped him up.

Cruz came to the dais facing significant pressure to endorse [Sleezebag] from his campaign aides and surrogates. Yet he is still at a moment of power and relevance: Only 45, a Latino senator who ended his campaign holding onto more political capital than he has ever enjoyed in his career.

His challenge was to remain well-liked in a GOP that, at least for now, is under the control of a man Cruz has indicated that he does not respect. Cruz effectively placed a risky bet that the Republican Party will judge [Sleezebag] harshly and reward him in the new era for not caving.

"If skillfully played, his stock will rise," Randall Dunning, a Texas delegate who has misgivings about [Sleezebag], said the day before he spoke.

Wes Brumit, a Cruz delegate from Texas, defended Cruz's non-endorsement Wednesday night.

"He did mention all the points [Sleezebag] mentioned: building a wall, fighting ISIS. He just didn't come right out and endorse," said Bumit, who sported a red "Ted Cruz for President" T-shirt and a cowboy hat. "He said everyone should be able to vote their conscience. And that's OK with me."

As for those who loudly booed Cruz? "All the boos were exactly the New York values that Ted has talked about."

Bumit added: "I think Mr. [Sleezebag] has some things to apologize for to Cruz before Sen Cruz can come onboard fully for [Sleezebag]."

But the question now is how skillful Cruz played it. If [Sleezebag] loses narrowly, holdouts like Cruz could be held responsible in 2020 for not unifying the party. And it is clear there are [Sleezebag] loyalists who now say they are loathe to back him.

Cruz and [Sleezebag], once political allies, turned on one another as they became the top two Republicans in the race. And their tension exploded when [Sleezebag]'s associates fanned flames of salacious tabloid rumors about Cruz and later attacked Cruz's father.


Since withdrawing from the race, Cruz has repeatedly declined to endorse [Sleezebag], but maintained that he could always come around to backing the Republican nominee. Yet their past tension -- and the personal attacks -- cast a cloud over any accord between the two aspirants.

Cruz's chief strategist Jason Johnson tweeted: "Since it's obvious the shock is contrived, let me ask: What the Hell did they expect from the son of the man who killed JFK? Light'n up."




Since it's obvious the shock is contrived, let me ask: What the Hell did they expect from the son of the man who killed JFK? Light'n up.
— Jason Johnson (@jasonsjohnson) July 21, 2016
Former Cruz aide Brian Phillips also defended the senator: "Just more proof this is about submission. We were told for months [Sleezebag] didn't need Cruz, but when he doesn't endorse they go apoplectic."




Just more proof this is about submission. We were told for months [Sleezebag] didn't need Cruz, but when he doesn't endorse they go apoplectic.
— Brian Phillips (@RealBPhil) July 21, 2016
The remarkable moment at the convention was the second time Cruz was upstaged by [Sleezebag] Wednesday.

At a rally on the Cleveland waterfront, as Cruz spoke gingerly to fellow Republicans about "our nominee" and the uncertain future under his former rival, [Sleezebag]'s plane flew in the clear skies behind him.

"That was pretty well orchestrated" Cruz said as the [Sleezebag]-emblazoned aircraft buzzed through the air and the crowd booed.

Turning to his campaign manager, Jeff Roe, Cruz said, "Jeff, did you email them to fly the plane right when I said that?"

CNN's Dana Bash, Jeremy Diamond, MJ Lee, Deirdre Walsh, Manu Raju and Katie Hinman contributed to this report.

[E_T]

Cruz should have endorsed Johnson, that would have shaken up the Grand 'Ol Party really good...

[Bearu]

What vortex did the Hillary disappear into over the last few weeks? Why do we have to hear the political blather from the air head politicians and media? Why do some people explicitly support corruption?

[Buster's Uncle]

She's not wasting time trying to fight a losing attention-battle she'd lose this week.  She'll have a turn, the Pig will try to spoil, alas, but going second with convention week coverage is a huge advantage.  She probably desperately needs the rest of a light-duty week in preparation.

The rest would go under people in general being no darn good...

[Spacy]

What vortex did the Hillary disappear into over the last few weeks? Why do we have to hear the political blather from the air head politicians and media? Why do some people explicitly support corruption?

Eh, I get 5-6 commercials from her every hour.  All the news stations just keep going back to her snarky twitter posts every 5 minutes (and there are not too many of them, so it is getting kinda dull hearing the same thing over and over).  She is definitely out there and doing a lot. 

Next week she will be even more in the spotlight as her team has their convention.  Expect a lot more politicians to be giving speeches then.  And, expect the media to basically pick apart the RNC's snarky comments instead of parading them around like the second coming. 

[Rusty Edge]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/21/politics/gary-johnson-ted-cruz/

Gary Johnson: Cruz did say to vote for Gary Johnson, didn't he?
By Eugene Scott, CNN
Updated 4:04 PM ET, Thu July 21, 2016

Washington (CNN) — Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson said Thursday that Ted Cruz's call to "vote your conscience" essentially encouraged people to support the former New Mexico governor.

"He did say to vote for Gary Johnson, didn't he? And that was 'vote your conscience,'" he told CNN's Chris Cuomo on "New Day." "I certainly would uphold the Constitution."

On Wednesday, Cruz upset many Republican National Convention attendees when he refused to endorse the party's nominee, Donald [Sleezebag], and told the crowd to "vote your conscience."

Johnson is just polling points from being able to appear on the presidential debate stages this fall.

"Thirteen percent in the polls. Oh my gosh. Looks like we're going to get in the presidential debate," he said. "Keeping in mind, just in the last six weeks, 13% is double what it was just six weeks ago."

Johnson said he thinks he'll get the 15% needed to make the debate stage because there's a lot of interest in him and his vice presidential nominee Bill Weld because of dissatisfaction with Donald [Sleezebag]. A candidate must reach 15% in five polls selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates to participate in debates.

"I think Donald [Sleezebag] alienates more than half of the Republicans," he said.

Johnson, who was speaking in Cleveland, said Republicans have repeatedly stopped him to express support for him.

"Like 1,000 people. Amazing. And not one single jab. You'd think I'd get a poke. At least one poke," he said. "Amazing. Really. Unbelievable. You would have figured a couple of 'Hey what are you doing?'"

[Bearu]

I wish the politicians would discuss important issues that effect people on the ground, yet I realize the president possesses a paucity of power in a divided government. The people who have a real influence on the daily lives of the citizens remains the local politicians because these politicians determine local economic climates and the composition of public morality in a community.

[Unorthodox]

The [Sleezebag] NATO comments are disturbing...

Love to see someone actually address that, but the RNC joke is too big a news hog. 

[Rusty Edge]

The T rump NATO comments are disturbing...

Love to see someone actually address that, but the RNC joke is too big a news hog.

I agree, I'll check into the articles about it next.

I've watched a lot of conventions ( admittedly most more than this one ) and I can't think of one where the opponent was mentioned so often. Normally parties are mentioned a lot because it's about our team vs. theirs. But this one is all about Donald vs. Hillary and Washington. It's not about the team, and  it's not about the GOP agenda, and I don't see how this helps to hold seats, much less gain them in both houses of congress, or governor's or mayor's  offices for that matter.

Granted, it's overdue for this party to splinter, and I'm all in favor of it, but it's sad to see the way it's being done. Also, because of all the selfless time, effort and cash donated by so many hard working people of the decades has come to this.

My wife was never a foot soldier & lieutenant  in the party, or a candidate like I was, but she was such a dedicated Republican that she paid to attend a G.W. Bush rally. We were talking tonight about G.W Bush saying he is sad thinking he will be the last of the Republican Presidents. I said that this was sad because it is a hostile takeover, and now [Sleezebag] is in the process of taking it apart. She said she hopes the Libertarians get established so that we'll always have a 3rd choice.

 

[Rusty Edge]

-bipartisan-condemnation-nato-comments/story?id=40774526]http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/donald-[Sleezebag]-bipartisan-condemnation-nato-comments/story?id=40774526

Donald [Sleezebag] Gets Bipartisan Condemnation for NATO Comments
By ALI ROGIN
Jul 21, 2016, 9:08 PM ET

Republican presidential candidate Donald [Sleezebag] drew swift rebukes from both ends of the political spectrum, as well as from NATO’s top official, for his declaration that, if he is president, the United States will defend fellow NATO countries only if the countries in question were contributing their fair share to NATO’s budget.

“We’re talking about countries that are doing very well. Then yes, I would be absolutely prepared to tell those countries, ‘Congratulations, you will be defending yourself,’” [Sleezebag] said during an interview with The New York Times, adding that he would defend only countries that had “fulfilled their obligations to us” financially.

In an interview with the New York Times, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called [Sleezebag]'s comments a "rookie mistake."

“I am willing to kind of chalk it up to a rookie mistake,” he said. “I don’t think there is anybody he would choose to be secretary of defense or secretary of state who would have a different view from my own.”

Two additional Senate Republicans, neither of whom is attending this week’s Republican National Convention, condemned his comments, suggesting Congress would not follow his lead on the issue if he is commander-in-chief.

“As [Russian President Vladimir] Putin revives Soviet-style aggression and the threat of violent Islam looms over European and American cities, the United States stands with our NATO allies,” Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., one of the most vocal elected officials in the never-[Sleezebag] movement, said in a statement.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of [Sleezebag]’s former Republican primary opponents, accused him of appeasing the Russian president with his assertions.

“I can only imagine how our allies in NATO, particularly the Balkan states, must feel after reading these comments from Mr. [Sleezebag]. I’m 100 percent certain how Russian President Putin feels — he’s a very happy man,” Graham said.

“If Mr. [Sleezebag] is serious about wanting to be commander-in-chief, he needs to better understand the job, which is to provide leadership for the United States and the free world,” Graham continued, also calling for [Sleezebag] to “correct” his statements during his prime-time address Thursday evening.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Illinois, a former Air Force pilot, told ABC News he was deeply disturbed by [Sleezebag]'s comments about NATO.

"To protect American first you have to have strong alliances," he said. "This alliance has prevented 60 years of war."

[Sleezebag]'s comments, Kinzinger added, were "ridiculous and reckless," and suggest that [Sleezebag] doesn't understand foreign policy.

Members of the Democratic Party also slammed [Sleezebag]’s remarks, accusing him of friendliness with the same unsavory leaders with whom Republicans have accused President Barack Obama of being too conciliatory.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest noted that Republicans have long accused Obama of going on a “global apology tour.”

“I guess that means that there is some irony associated with the case that’s being made by the Republican nominee at this point,” Earnest said.

Hillary Clinton’s campaign condemned [Sleezebag]’s remarks, also accusing him of cozying up to Putin.

“Over the course of this campaign, [Sleezebag] has displayed a bizarre and occasionally obsequious fascination with Russia’s strongman, Vladimir Putin. And he has policy positions — and advisers — to match,” Clinton senior policy adviser Jake Sullivan said, citing a Washington Post report that [Sleezebag] staffers persuaded convention delegates to strip language from the GOP platform that would have called for “providing lethal defensive weapons” to the Ukrainian military.

The White House has declined to provide Ukraine with lethal weapons, but mainstream Republicans have long called for the president to do so.

“Just this week, we learned that the [Sleezebag] campaign went to great lengths to remove a plank from the GOP platform about aid to Ukraine that would have offended Putin, bucking a strongly held position within his own party ... It is fair to assume that Vladimir Putin is rooting for a [Sleezebag] presidency.”

Kingzinger, who isn't sure if he'll support [Sleezebag] and has frequently criticized [Sleezebag]'s foreign policy pronouncements, called the platform change "curious for sure."

Although NATO does not frequently comment on issues related to member nations’ domestic politics, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary-general, weighed in on [Sleezebag]’s comments, defending European allies’ contributions to NATO while avoiding commenting on the election directly.

“European allies are also stepping up,” he said. “For the first time in many years, defense spending among European allies and Canada rose last year.”

Secretary of State John Kerry was also pulled in to the fracas Thursday, fielding a question about [Sleezebag]'s comments at a press conference at the State Department.

Prefacing his comments by saying he wasn't making a statement about the presidential race, Kerry said he would restate American policy towards NATO.

"This administration, like every administration Republican and Democrat alike since 1949, remains fully committed to the NATO alliance and to our security commitments under Article 5, which is absolutely bedrock to our membership and to our partnership with NATO."

[Sleezebag] was also questioned about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's response to the failed military coup, and told the New York Times that the United States has "a lot of problems."

"Our nominee is making the same arguments you hear in Russian propaganda and that you hear from left-wing liberals," Kinzinger said of [Sleezebag]'s criticisms.